Why are we still surprised when something amazing is vegan?

People share vegan recipes with me everyday. Whether it’s a cashew based cheese or a seitan brisket, chefs are getting more and more creative in their preparation of food imitations. Mimicking experiences like the squeak of mac n’ cheese or the chew of jerky has been easily duplicated and often times improved by plant-based means. So why are we still always promising non-vegans they’ll be surprised to find out a dish is vegan? How come people still don’t believe something enjoyable can come from something that doesn’t exploit animals? The stereotypes around what vegans like is still very much perpetuated by the non-vegans who fear veganism, and the vegans who look to make converts without much conversation. It shouldn’t be assumed that vegan things are bland, boring or granola, but it also shouldn’t be assumed that they’ll be perfect, better, and infallible. The way we pro...